Alfie Barbeary has confirmed his new position after scoring four minutes into his return to action for Wasps against Gloucester on Friday night.
Having started off his professional career in the front row as a hooker, it’s now been confirmed that the versatile forward will operate in the back-row moving forward.
The talented 21-year-old, who was tipped to be a breakout star with England, had only played twice in 2021 before last night due to a syndesmosis injury followed by a series of hamstring issues.
“He’ll be a back-rower,” revealed Wasps boss Lee Blackett to CoventryLive.
“We spoke at the end of last season, myself Eddie Jones and him.
“We were all involved in the discussion and Alfie wants to play back-row. His appetite and his passion is to be there, so he’ll be a number eight.”
DID YOU KNOW? Barbeary arrived from Bloxham School, where he won the Natwest School Plate final in March 2019.
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Four England players who switched position with mixed results
1. Jonny Wilkinson
Centre to Fly-Half
Wilkinson started his career at Newcastle School of Rugby as an inside centre, competing for a place with international veterans such as Inga Tuigamala, and Lion Alan Tait. He then took over from Rob Andrew, who was made Falcons head coach (later Director of Rugby), as both their fly-half and goal kicker. The rest is history.